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Prologue
“Hello, is this Jessica Harcourt?”
“Yes,” I ask breathlessly. I had to run to get the phone from my purse on the table in the classroom where I work. Nobody ever calls me so I assume it must be important.
“This is Denton, Richards and Howe. We’re the attorneys for your sister’s estate. We’ve been trying to find you for awhile now.”
My head spins and I drop into the first chair that I can find, glad that I don’t accidentally sit on a child. My sister’s…estate. Tears well in my eyes and I have to struggle not to lose it. It’s been a long time but I sure didn’t plan on ever hearing those words.
Clearing my throat, I struggle to force a word out, knowing that the silence is deafening.
“Ummm. Why were you looking for me?” It’s a stupid question. But honestly, I’m amazed that I can force anything out of my tight throat. Emotion clogs my throat and I can’t make my head clear enough to come up with anything sensible to say.
“We’re trying to find the next of kin for your niece and nephew.”
“Oh my gosh,” I whisper, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. The tears fall down my cheeks unchecked. “She was married?”
I should know this. But we haven’t talked to each other in so long. Not since she up and left in the middle of the night to get away from the horrible house that we lived in. Our foster family barely tolerated us. Nothing overt, just ignoring every single thought, dream and prayer that we had. Sometimes ignoring someone hurts way worse than a mean word or a fist to the gut.
“Yes, she was. The two of them were killed in a car accident about a month ago. For now, they’re staying in a foster home while we tried to locate you. Her husband was an only child and his parents are gone. Your parents are gone so that makes you the only family that their children have.”
“They’re in a foster home?” That has to be the worst thing I’ve ever heard. I know what those places are like. “How old are they? Wait! How many children did they have? What are their names?”
The questions race through my mind and out my mouth in an endless spate of words.
“I will be there tomorrow with them if you are willing to take them. I will have the paperwork for the estate. They had two children. Their oldest was adopted because they didn’t think they could have any children. Gavin is nine. Their daughter Miracle is only six. She has asthma and it’s pretty severe. So there are some issues that you will have to deal with and this is an important decision to make. If you feel like you need some time to make your decision, I can wait. It would be best for the children if it’s soon.”
I shake my head, catching the eye of the teacher who’s watching me with a worried frown. She’s my best friend in this little town. I mouthI’m okayto her and Leslie turns to answer the question one of the little ones is asking her.
“I don’t need to think about it. They’re my family. It’s Christmas. I want them. Family needs to be together. How soon can you be here with the papers?”
“As I said, I’ll be there tomorrow. Are you sure? This is a big change in your life and from what I understand you’re relatively young.”
I’m twenty-one in fact. Old enough to have children of my own. My sister was quite a bit older than me at thirty-one now. Or she was. Sadness washes over me, sinking its little claws into me painfully.
I’m all alone in the world now.
Except for two little children who need me as much as I think I need them.
“Yes, I’m sure. I’ll be waiting.”
“Very well, I will see you tomorrow. I look forward to meeting you in person. Your sister and her husband were actually good friends of mine. I was surprised when I realized she had a sister. She never mentioned you.”
“Yes. We weren’t that close lately.” It hurts to hear that she never told anyone about me. But it doesn’t surprise me. I think both of us just wanted to move on and forget the last fifteen years after our mother died.
But there’s no way that I’m letting another child, especially my own flesh and blood grow up like I did. Like we did.
The past should stay where it belongs. I’m looking at a new future. One that involves a family I never thought I would have.
I hang up the phone after telling him good-bye and then cross over to where Leslie is eyeing me. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, but I need tomorrow off. I’ll tell you about it later but I just found out that my sister died. I’m meeting the attorney tomorrow.”
Her mouth drops open in shock. “Your sister died? What are you doing? Go home now.”
“I wasn’t very close with her anymore. She took off as soon as she turned eighteen and for all intents and purposes forgot about me.”
“That doesn’t matter. She’s still your sister. Go home. You look like you’re about to drop.”
